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Testosterone for Women

Examples

Generic Name

Testosterone

Methyltestosterone

Testosterone is not approved by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating sexual problems in women. At this time, there is no testosterone pill, patch, or cream approved for women in the U.S. Those made for men have too high a dose for women. But your doctor may prescribe testosterone in a compounded formula, which is a medicine made just for you by a pharmacist.

How It Works

Testosterone is known as a "male" hormone, or
androgen. It also is made in small amounts by a
woman's
adrenal glands and
ovaries. A woman's testosterone is highest around age
20 and slowly declines with age.1

In men, testosterone is linked to male physical
traits and sex drive.

In women, testosterone may be linked to sex
drive. But for women, interest in sex is much more complicated than just
testosterone levels.

Testosterone therapy raises testosterone
levels in the body. But testosterone is only
FDA-approved for use in men.

Methyltestosterone probably does not work in
the body and the brain like natural testosterone does. It does not directly
raise a woman's testosterone levels. And it cannot be measured in the blood
like natural testosterone.

Why It Is Used

Methyltestosterone. This hormone product is sometimes also prescribed to menopausal
women for improving sexual desire and
response.

Testosterone is an experimental treatment
used to raise a woman's sexual interest, arousal, and satisfaction. Women with
low androgen levels who might benefit from low-dose testosterone therapy
include those who:

Have had their ovaries removed (oophorectomy).
This causes a sudden drop in testosterone, which may reduce sex drive and
satisfaction.

Have a low sex drive that does not seem to be caused
by a medicine, nor by relationship or stress-related problems.

Have an
adrenal system problem or an underactive pituitary
gland (hypopituitarism).

Do not take testosterone if you:

Could become pregnant. Taking testosterone
while you are pregnant can cause a female fetus to develop male
traits.

Some experts advise against using testosterone therapy for women
who have not reached menopause.2

How Well It Works

There is not strong enough evidence to support the use of
testosterone for improving menopausal symptoms.3 But for women who no longer have ovaries (or whose ovaries are not working), testosterone with estrogen therapy has been shown to slightly increase sexual desire.4

In many women, testosterone may have a direct effect on sex drive
and sexual response. Women taking testosterone may have more sexual thoughts,
fantasies, activity, and satisfaction.5

There is no solid link between a woman's high testosterone and high
sex drive, nor between low sex drive and low testosterone. You can have a low
testosterone level in your body and have a normal sex drive or have high
testosterone and very little interest in sex.

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.

Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.

If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:

Trouble breathing.

Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor if you have:

Hives.

Hoarseness or a deeper voice.

Decreased breast size.

An increase in the size of your clitoris.

Common side effects of this medicine include:

Hair growth on the face and
body.

Hair loss on scalp.

Acne or oily skin.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference
is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Taking testosterone by using a skin patch, gel, or cream does not
seem to affect cholesterol levels, but taking it by mouth does. This is because
hormones taken by mouth are processed through the liver. Hormones taken through the skin are not processed by the liver.6 At this time, there are no
FDA-approved testosterone products for women.

Testosterone treatment for longer than 6 months has not been
studied. Experts do not yet know whether it raises risks of breast cancer,
heart disease, or dangerous blood clots. It may increase these risks, because
some testosterone in the body is made into estrogen. Higher-than-normal
estrogen in the body is linked to these risks.6

Taking medicine

Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.

There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.

Advice for women

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant. If you need to use this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.

Checkups

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.